India has carried out surgical strikes targeting “launchpads” for terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, said the Indian Army. The strike was carried out on Wednesday night, senior military and diplomatic sources informed the media at a hurriedly called media briefing at the Ministry of External Affairs.
“Based on very specific and credible information which we received yesterday that some terrorist teams had positioned itself along the line of control, India Army carried out surgical strikes last night at these launch pads. The operations were focused to ensure that these terrorists do not succeed in endangering lives of citizens in our country. During the counter-terrorist operations, significant casualties have been caused to the terrorists and those who were trying to support them. The operations have since ceased,” Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh said.
“We do not have any plans to continue. However the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to deal with any contingency which may arise. I have spoken to Pakistani DGMO and expressed our concern. It is India’s intention to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region but we cannot certainly allow terrorists to operate across the Line of Control with impunity and attack our citizens,” said the DGMO.
#IndianArmy conducted surgical strikes y’day, to foil infiltration attempts; resulting in significant casualties to terrorists: DGMO @adgpipic.twitter.com/mkv6FmdhMY
— PIB India (@PIB_India)September 29, 2016
The attack was carried out following the September 18 terror strike in Uri that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers.
Gen Singh said India shared with Pak army details of the surgical strikes which followed “very specific information” that terrorists were positioning themselves in the launch pads along the LoC.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Former PM Manmohan Singh, J&K Governor and J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti have been briefed on the surgical strikes by the Indian Army.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the situation along the LoC.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has informed Chief Ministers of Punjab, West Bengal and Odisha, CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury and Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad about surgical strikes.
The press conference was jointly conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.
India had also summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over evidence that proved the terrorists that attacked an army base in Uri and left 19 jawans dead, did come in from across the Line of Control.
